24 November 2003

The Minister For Foreign Affairs Alexander
Downer and The Minister For Fisheries, Forestry And Conservation Senator
Ian Macdonald

Australia and France have today signed an agreement on maritime cooperation
which paves the way for tougher action against illegal fishing operations
in the Southern Ocean.

The treaty establishes a formal framework for cooperative surveillance and
research activity by France and Australia in our respective territorial seas
and exclusive economic zones in the Southern Ocean.

Australia and France share a common desire to protect the valuable fish resources
found in our neighbouring exclusive economic zones in the Southern Ocean and
the unique marine environment of those waters.

The treaty provides for cooperative surveillance activity and will ensure
that both Australia and France have a more complete picture of activities
in our respective remote waters.

Under the treaty, France and Australia have agreed to exchange information
on the location, movements and licensing of fishing vessels and will work
more closely together to fight illegal fishing.

Over the past decade, illegal fishing in the Southern Ocean has increased
and valuable Patagonian Toothfish have been targeted by foreign fishing vessels
in Australia’s Exclusive Economic Zone around Heard Island and the McDonald
Islands.

The signing of this treaty follows the apprehension of the suspected illegal
fishing vessel Viarsa 1 in August this year and demonstrates the seriousness
with which Australia and other countries view the threat of illegal fishing.

The treaty also shows the high level of cooperation between countries on
illegal fishing issues and sends a strong message to illegal fishing operators
who seek to plunder the world’s oceans, completely disregarding the long-term
damage they cause for the sake of a short-term profit.